Straight bar knitting machine and method



Nov. 26, 1963 LE ROY J. BROOKE STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 27, 1957 INVENTOR. LE. Rov J. BROOKE Nov. 26, 1963 LE R Y J. BROOKE 3,111,828

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND mz'mon Filed Nov. 27, 1957 4 Sheets-She et 2 INVENTOR. L: Roy J. BROOKE Nov. 26, 1963 LE ROY J. BROOKE 3,111,328

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 27, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. LEROY J.- BROOKE ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1963 LE ROY J. BROOKE STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND 111111101:

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 27, 1957 SELVAGE'.

Loo az Couns: Wmsums To GAIN \MDTH 8: PICOT LOCK Loose Counsz Two COURSES PLAIN (Nor NARRoweD) JERSEY Boov INVENTOR. LE Rev .J. BROOKE WHMHWUI,

BY /3 (MM United States Patent 3,111,828 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Le Roy J. Brooke, Norristown, Pa., assignor. to Wildman Jacquard Co., Norristown, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 6%,345 Claims. (Cl. 66--88) This invention pertains to improvements in straight bar knitting machines, and more particularly, to a novel combination of elements therein and method of opera tion thereof by which it becomes possible to knit true rib fabric, to transfer to the knitting of jersey fabric automatically, and to continue jersey knitting throughout any desired extent after which the cycle may be repeated.

It is a general object of the invention to devise mechanism anda method by which straight bar, united needle machines such as referred to herein shall be provided for knitting true rib material as for the cuff of a sweater blank or the like, then to transfer rib stitches to needles adapted to knit jersey material and to kmt a section of jersey material in continuation of the rib work.

A further object is to accomplish the above menrtioned object during the knitting of string work in which connected articles or blanks 'are produced which may later be disconnected by cutting or pulling out a draw or similar thread inserted during the knitting process.

Another object is that of knitting such material automatically while forming a selvage at the start of each rib section and also controlling the shape of the jersey sections by widening and narrowing automatically.

lit is a more specific object to devise a knitting machine in which the jersey knitting shall vbe accomplished on spring beard needles and the rib work formed on some only of those needles acting in combination with a bank of latch needles and to effect transfer of stitches from the latter to the former at the transition from rib to jersey knitting.

A more specific object is that of providing novel and effective means to present and to withdraw every other one of the bank of spring beard (jersey) needles to or from a knitting position at appropriate phases in the knitting cycle.

A further object is that of providing appropriate yarn sinking means, means for casting ofi stitches and stitch transfer aids for both groups of needles, and also so to control the latch (rib) needles as to cause them to knit, transfer their stitches and to withdraw and remain inactive when not functioning.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure.

In straight bar type (united needle) knitting machines, it is known to knit rib fabric or jersey fabrics exclusively, but commercially, the only fabrics comprising a'rib cuff or the like followed by continuing jersey material has been made by transferring to a single bank of united needles a rib cuff strip which has been knitted on another machine, of course, a ribber adapted to knit that material only.

That practice requires considerable handling of the rib material since it must be impaled upon a suitable transfer bar and then transferred from that bar to the needles. While there are some facilities for such work, it still requires considerable work by very skilled help and also, the knitter must be stopped to effect transfer of each cuff to its needles, or of several cuffs at :once, each of which must be brought up to a position above knockover bits as a new article is to be formed. Again, it is not possible to knit string work that way since each article is cast off individually.

There has been a long recognized problem to be 2 solved here and inventors have, from time to time, directed their attention to that problem, witness United States Patents 1,132,135 'and 55,444. However, so far as applicant is aware, none of these have ever been utilized commercially.

According to the invention, a multibed machine has been devised in which a number of spring beard needles are mounted in a composite needle bed comprised of a main needle bar and an auxiliary needle bar. The former has fixed therein what may more or'less arbitrarily be termed alternate needles while intermediate needles are fixed in the latter. By means to be described, the two bars may function as a unit with :all needles aligned and active, or the auxiliary bar may be displaced to withdraw its needles from action.

The sinkers and knockover bits are control-led in the usual manner although the bits are of special construction.-

A second bed, langularly disposed to the first is provided with a number of needles equal to one-half the total. number in the first bed. 'Fhese are in line with intermediate needles of the first group and thus function between alternate needles of that group. For purposes ofv expediting the disclosure, the first group of needles will be referred to as jersey needles; the second group, preferably of latch type, and which function only during rib work and at transfer are referred to as rib needles.

This second bed and its needles are caused to go through a cycle of motions which will be described in detail and the mechanism involved will likewise be explained in an appropriate part of this disclosure.

The transfer of stitches requires-a type of instrumentality adapted to that end, and preferably, the latch needles are shouldered and have clips as a functional part thereof for presenting loops to be taken on the jersey needles at transfer. A special cast off plate is also provided.

The invention will be described in greater detail by fuller reference to a specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, where in:

FIG. 1 is a section taken through a part of a fashioning type straight bar knitting machine to which the invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of certain control parts of the machine.

FIG. 2a is a detail view of a follower control unit.

FIG. 2b shows a part of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of the rib needles, their bed :and cooperating means associated therewith.

FIG; 4 is a section through the knitting heads showing the parts knitting rib work.

FIG. 5 'is a similar View at transfer.

FIG. 6 is a view of the mechanism as it knits jersey.

FIG. 7 is a. view showing more or less schematic-ally the fabric resulting from a single cycle of the knitter.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing pattern control means fior governing certain functions.

FIG. 9 is a section showing the mechanism of FIG. 8 as seen looking lengthwise of the control means.

Now referring to FIG. 1, the knitting machine to which the invention has been applied is of the single unit, straight bar, full-fashioned type in which sinkers or sinkers and dividers cooperate withspring beard needles to knit jersey material. Such a machine has a number of yarn carriers, at least five such, which lay a-yarn or yarns to be measured and drawn into stitches. It may also comprise means to fashion the fabric by widening or narrowing it in known manner and also, a pattern controlled means, e.g., a picot bar, to transfer laterally or otherwise redispose stitches for purposes of ornamentation or to render the fabric resistant to running. Such a machine is illustrated and described in detail in United States Patents 1,982,991 and 2,237,602 and these, thus incorporated by reference, make it unnecessary to insert herein details of the general aspects of construction and operation of such a knitting machine.

While the invention is particularly applicable to a straight bar machine in which a single, required width of material may be knitted, that is, a so-called single-unit machine, it is, of course, equally applicable to multi-unit machines in which a number of knitting heads function through common actuating and control members to produce a number of blanks or pieces of material simultaneously.

The machine comprises among other parts a main needle bar 26 in slots in which are fixed a number of spring beard needles 21 having butts 22 and being clamped in position by a clamping bar 23. These needles 21 are the alternate needles above mentioned and a number of intermediate needles 24 equally spaced between those alternate ones have butts 25 set in a slot in an auxiliary needle bar 26. This bar is vertically slidable within a space between the main bar 20 and clamping member 23, as shown, and is controlled by mechanism shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. However, it is carried by screws 27 vertically slidable in guide slots 28 in the clamping member 23. The needles 24 may slide vertically in slots in the main bar 26 so that when moved to uppermost position, they present a complete complement of spring beard needles of any gauge desired and serve to knit jersey fabric of corresponding quality and texture for that gauge.

According to one preferred practice, intermediate needles are not as thick as the alternate ones so that with uniformly wide slots in the needle bar, the intermediate needles may work easily in their slots, although it is possible to use needles of uniform thickness and to cut intermediate slots one or two thousands of an inch wider. However, the intermediate needles do have to be drawn down to a position in which their wider part, i.e., the grooved eye portion enters the slots in the main bar. For that reason, the upper part of these slots is cut out to an extra width.

When bar 26 is drawn downwardly intermediate needles are pulled down to an inactive level and play no part at all in the knitting process. Of course, loops must be cast off or transferred to other needles before the auxiliary bar can be thus drawn down.

The auxiliary bar 26 when moved downwardly need not be stopped in a precise position, but in its uppermost position, it strikes against a shoulder or other abutment very precisely positioned to limit its movement so that all needle hooks shall be disposed at the same elevation. Here a shoulder a on bar 26 engages against a shoulder b on the bar 20. If desired an adjustment may be provided to obviate the need for too precise machining.

The main bar 20 is carried upon a system of cam operated levers and links as in the patents above made of record and the needles are thus caused to pass through a stitch drawing or other cycle. The usual controls are available for setting the stitch length and for making other adjustments.

A sinker head base 29 is slotted for sinkers 30 having notches 31 and nibs 32 for the usual purpose. A sinker head cover 33 retains these parts in place. As is the usual practice sinkers are controlled positively and are projected inwardly in a stitch measuring wave by a slur cock (not shown). There is a sinker in the space between each of needles 21 and 24 and these are all employed as jack sinkers there being no dividing sinkers necessary.

Knock-over bits 34 are carried in a bar 35 and function in the accepted fashion. These are operated in a conventional manner but have specially shaped noses.

Above the needle assemblage'a picot bar 36 carries a complement of points 37 and these may be swung into and from an active position according to r q irem and 4 means is provided for causing the points to dip, to take loops from needles and drop them 01f as in effecting a loose course, or to transfer those loops laterally and to place them on other needles as for run-resist work or for making eyelets or other ornamental efiects.

Of course, narrowing points and their control are also employed, but since these are not directly a part of the improvements herein described and claimed, further description is not necessary here.

In carrying out the objects of the instant invention, a second needle bed and a second bank of needles are provided, these being so controlled and the bed so disposed that they function at more or less right angles to the needles 21 and 24 and also may be withdrawn to a position where they are out of action entirely.

While the needles 21 and 24, jersey needles, are of bearded type and require pressing, that being effected against the press bar of the sinker head, it is preferred that this second bank of needles 38, rib needles, be of the latch type. Of course, if spring beard needles are to be used, they must be pressed although according to the system herein described, no sinker for the rib needles even if they were of bearded type, would be required.

Since transfer of stitches from these rib needles to the jersey needles is to be effected, these needles must be provided to accomplish that and, according to a preferred manner of carrying out the objects of the invention, the latch needles are provided with transfer clips 39. These are riveted or otherwise attached to the shanks of their needles and have points 40 and a shouldered part 41 bowed away from the needle so that when projected inwardly, a loop on the needle will be penetrated by the clip point and spread laterally. The needle is provided with a shoulder to prevent the loop sliding too far back and to make certain that the loop is accurately positioned to be penetrated by the jersey needle as the latter rises through the space between needle shank and clip. While a single needle has beenreferred to by way of illustration, it is to be understood that the entire group of needles, both rib and jersey, function en masse and thus, for whatever width of material and gauge of needles are employed, a relatively great number of stitches are not only drawn simultaneously, but are also transferred in a similar fashion. The rib needles are not shown in greater detail here as they are of similar type to that shown in United States Patent No. 2,326,694.

In knitting this rib work it is, of course, possible to knit with needles only insofar as the latch or rib needles are concerned since the yarn is measured by the sinkers and is laid in a position to be taken within the hooks of both banks of needles. However, a special cast off plate 42 is provided and this has forecuts at 43 within which the shanks of needles 38 are slidably maintained. These forecut ends comprise surfaces against or over which rib loops may be drawn and also assure that each rib stitch shall be cast off as intended.

This cast off plate 42 is carried in a bar 44 which is, turn, pivoted at 45 at each end. These pivots are supported at the upper ends of arms 46, one at either side, and springs 47, or other suitable means are provided to maintain the cast off plate in an upwardly directed pressure relationship with the needles 38.

While the needle bar 20, sinkers and knock-over bits are actuated more or less conventionally by cams and linkages to transmit movement from the cams to them, the control of the rib needles, their cast olf plate and for the auxiliary needle bar 26 is taken from the main cam shaft and will be described by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The bar 26 has a working fit between the bar 20 and clamp 23 and, as above stated, is moved vertically through screws 27 guided in slots 28. These screws are actuated or held in position by bell cranks 48 and 49, one for each screw. These bell cranks are pivoted to the needle bar 20 as at 50 and 51, FIG. 2, and at one arm are forked to provide functionally curved slots 52 and 53, as the case may be. The fingers which define these slots are of such length that when the bar 26 is elevated, the top finger 54 overlies its screw 27 while the lower finger 55 is much shorter and aligns with the center of screw 27 and pivot 50. At the base of slots 52 and 53 the angle of the slot changes rather abruptly to form a locking portion 56 which in its movement describes a path concentric about pivot 50.

These bell cranks are swung about their pivots by a bar 57 guided for horizontal sliding motion on screws 58 and 59 which pass through slots 69 and 61 in the bar and are threaded into the clamping bar. Slots 60 and 61 are wide enough to take care of the slight vertical component of movement of the bar. The bar 57 is connected by screws 62'and 63 so that as the bar is moved, the cranks are swung to and from the full to the dotted line positions.

Bar 57 is moved lengthwise of the machine by means of a camming action imposed by followers 64 or 65, depending upon whether bar 26 is to be raised or lowered. The bar ends are cut at an angle as shown at 66 and 67 and either follower 64 or 65 may be brought into position (full lines, FIG. 1) to engage its bar end and then, as the needle bar unit is moved down, the bar 57 will be cammed in the appropriate direction to change the position of the intermediate needles.

Roller 64 is pivoted at the upper end of an arm 68, FIG. 2, while the opposed roller 65 is pivoted in arm 69. These arms are mounted upon a shaft 70 and are controlled by a cable or flexible shaft means 71 and other controls to be described. The cable pushes against a lug 72 and a spring 73 returns the parts to inactive or dotted line position. Of course, the arms are governed so that when one is active the other must be in inactive position.

Rib needles 33 are carried in a needle bar 74 being held in place by a clamping plate 75. This bar is pivoted on shoulder screws 76 threaded into the bar and passing through bearings in the ends of arms 77.

The arms 77 fast near the ends of a rib or latch needle control. shaft 78 are actuated by an arm 79 having a follower 80 at its lower end. Arm 79 has a hub 81 clamped on shaft as shown in FIG. 2. As in other motions later to be described, this rib needle actuation may be derived from different cams selectively engageable by the follower. The latter is slidable along a shouldered pin 82 at the arm end.

There are two cams rotatable with cam shaft 83 by which the follower 80 may be affected; also, it may be moved to two positions in each of which it is unaffected by any cam. Cam 84 is a transfer cam and governs the rib needles to push them in to extend their loops for transfer as in FIG. 5. Cam 85 is a rib knitting cam and gives the rib needles their motion needed to take yarn and to draw loops and cast off stitches.

When moved to the right, FIG. 2, beyond cam 85 the follower is unaffected and since a spring 86, FIG. 1, always holds the follower inwardly against the cams or toward the camshaft, when off cams, arm 79 will swing the ribneedleassembly to the position of FIG. 3 in which arms 77' stop against a table rail. 87 or abutment.

Mechanism just described affects the more or less horizontal motion of the parts and elevation thereof'is controlled by arms 88 pivoted at 89 and carrying follower 90. Spring 91 connected to hooked extensions of the arms maintain the followers against their cams. Arms 88 are connected to the cast off plate by links 92 connected to the arms at 93 and the bar at 94. Of course, there. are an arm and a link, etc., at each side and thecams for actuating. these parts are duplicated at each side. However, there is only one arm 79 which imparts oscillations to shaft 78-to which an arm 77 is pinned at each end.

Arms 88 have shoulder pins 95 threaded into their ends and followers 90 may rotate and slide upon these as governed by'shifter mechanism to be described. The followers taken any one of three positions selectively and are affected by a knitting cam 96 or an idler cam 97. The latter is of double width as the follower moves incidental to transfer position of the parts and also to the idle position thereof. Carn 97, also other cams to which the follower must make a step-up move at it is shifted, are provided with a ramp 98. These are referred to as ramp cams and are used extensively in situations of this sort. Of course, the ramp isnot cut back far enough to interfere with the normal rolling of the follower on the cam periphery.

During knitting, the earns 96 control the elevation at which the rib needles function. At transfer and when the rib stitch knitting unit is withdrawn and inactive, the cam 97 controls.

Arms 46, one at either end, have their hubs freely pivoted on shaft 78 being restrained axially by the hubs of arms 77 and by collars 98. Of course, these arms par tially support and actuate the cast off bar, springs 47, above explained forming the supplementary supporting means. Actually each arm 46 is one part ofa bell crank lever of which arm 99 is the second part. These extend more or less horizontally, FIG. 1, and are offset outwardly to carry followers 100 on pins 101 similarly to the way in which followers 90 are mounted. Likewise these followers 160 may be selectively moved laterally, FIG. 2, to engage them with knitting cams 102 or with idler cams 103. Cam 103 is also a ramp cam. Of course, there are duplicate parts at the opposite side of the ma, chine so that these are referred to in the plural although for the most part, only one side of the machine is shown. Rollers 199 are held against their carns by springs 104 hooked to the ends of arms 99 and anchored at some fixed part of the machine.

Now having described the levers, links, cams and the like which affect the needles to cause them to pass through their various functions, the means for laterally moving followers to appropriate cams will be described.

A shifter rod 105 is borne in suitable end bearings (not shown) and is controlled by means interconnectedv to pattern devices such as those shown in United. States Patent No. 1,982,991, and to be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9; This rod may thus be moved to three positions and. its motion is transmitted through roller shifter arms 106, 106' only one end of the shaft being. described, but, of course, there are two such arms at each end of the mechanism aligned with those followers 90 and 109 with which they function. Each arm has at its upper end a forked arm 197 or 108 as the case may be, the former being forked as at 16 9 to engage in a groove in roller 100. The fork engages between the roller disk itself and a shouldered part 110 of the roller hub.

Arm 107 is pivoted at 11.1 to arm 106, but is, in effect, an extension of that arm. The pivot allows for the swinging of the arm 99, yet is always in a position to shift the follower fromone cam to another. These arms duplicated at each end of the shaft move with the shaft which, as will be described, is moved by pattern means to the right, FIGS. 2 and 8, but is returned to the left by av spring.

Likewise, arm 108 is forked as at 112, pivoted at 113 to arm 106 and engages between roller 90 and the enlarged part 114 of its hu'b.

Follower 80- is moved to four different positions by a rather similar means. A sleeve 115 is slidable along shifter rod 105 and is positively moved by a link 116 in turn actuated by pattern control. A spring 117 urges the hub 115 and an arm later to be described toward the left while pattern means pushes the parts to the right.

A curved, depending arm 118 has a forked end-1'19 a slot 126 which is on an arc centered at shaft 78 so that as arm 79 swings, the grooved ihub 121 of roller 80 is always under control of the shifter. The latter can move the follower to any one of the four positions mentioned;

Now referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the control for the above described parts include a pattern drum 122 which accommodates several rows of cams (not shown) which may be of varying heights and forms. These cams are similar to those described in the basic patent, above noted, and the drum is ratcheted as therein described. The shaft 105 is pushed to the right by an arm 123 of a bell crank pivoted at 124 and having a second arm 125. The latter connects by link 1 26 to one arm of a lever 1-27 having a toe 128 and :being pivoted at 129. Cams aligned with toe 128 lift it and through the linkage described, press rod 105 to the right against a spring load on the rod. Arm 123 is preferably forked to straddle the rod and engages an adjustable collar 139.

Link 116 is actuated somewhat similarly by a lever including arms 131 and 132 pivoted at 133 and connected to a second lever 134 by a link 135. This second lever is similar to that at 127, but longer as dilferent extents of travel are required for rod 105 and hub 115. Cable control 71 connects to be actuated by a third lever 136 and, of course, swings arms 63 and 69 as described accordingly as the toe of lever 136 rides on a cam or drops from one. 1

While these three specific pattern functions are set out in detail, it is to be understood there are others served by drum 122 and earns thereon, but they are not neces sary to an understanding of the invention involved here.

At this point it should be explained that while the bell cranks 48, etc., are probably rigidly enough mounted to eifect their intended result as described to this point, added means is utilized to lock the parts very rigidly in either their raised or their lowered positions. At each location for a crank a hardened pin 137 with a bevelled head is set in the clamping bar 23-. It is positioned directly over the crank center. The cranks themselves have two complementary screws 138 one of which aligns with the pin head 137 depending upon the position of the crank. These screws are adjustable and lock in an adjusted position so that they effect a sort of jamming of the parts to make sure that the auxiliary bar is moved to and held in an extreme position.

Now having described the mechanism involved, its operation throughout the knitting of a complete cycle, of knitting a sweater blank, for example, will be described.

Referring to FIG. 7, a blank to be used for the front of a V-necked sweater is shown by way of example and includes cufi C of 1 x l rib material and a jersey body B which is widened and narrowed to give it the proper shape and to form a V-neck. These blanks are knitted connected-ly and are later separated by pulling out draw threads. At the end of the knitting at the body portion, two courses of jersey material not narrowed are formed, then a loose course which preferably may constitute stitches in every other Wale only.

At the end of the jersey body fewer needles (counting those at the neck area also) are in operation than are required for the rib cuff. It becomes necessary to bring more needles into action by widening and a section as indicated in FIG. 7 is knitted for that purpose. That section should also contain certain picot lock or run stop courses.

A second draw thread is then introduced to form a draw course just prior to the next rib cuff. These rib cuifs have a selvage of any suitable nature and, of course, the transition from rib work to plain or jersey is eifected by transferring a stitch from each rib needle to an intermediate jersey needle which would have been inactive during knitting the cuff.

\Now assuming that knitting is progressing in a rib cuff C, a selvage having been formed, the conditions of FIG. 4 apply. Pattern controls have, by means of the shifting mechanisms, moved the follower 80 onto cam 85, followers 90 to cams 9'6 and 100 to cams 10 2. Controls 71 will have been active in properly timed sequence to swing arm 68 to a position in which its roller 64 is contacted by cam 66 as the needle bar is moved downwardly, to push bar 57 to the left, FIG. 2, and thus to swing each bell crank 46, 49, etc., (it being understood there are any suitable plurality of these) to the left or lowering position to depress the supplementary needle bar and to take intermediate jersey needles down out of action. Of course, prior to depressing this bar and its needles, the picot bar and points 37 are dipped to engage the needles 24 and take off their loops.

The rib needles when brought into action may or may not have their latches opened. To make certain that they are opened, several means to that end may be utilized. Most simply, needle latches With upwardly projecting latch spoons are used and the yarn held in the throats of sinkers is so positioned that wtih the needle elevation the yarn itself will slide over the outside of the hook bills and beneath the latches to open thorn if they are not already opened.

Other means include the various types of brushes used for the purpose or wire latch openers, either individual or functioning on all or a group of needles.

Rib work is produced by feeding one or more yarns from an equivalent number of carriers to the alternate jersey needles and to the rib needles. These yarns are laid on sinker nibs as is the usual practice and the sinkers moved in a wave then measure it about alternate jersey needles. There will be a sinker at either side of each of those needles and the stroke of the carrier will be effective to lay the yarn about enough needles for the width desired. It is to be understood that the end needles must always be jersey needles.

The sinkers measure enough yarn so that rib needles may then come up to take the yarn laying above or at their hooks and, as needles 21 are drawn down and needles 3 3 are pulled to the front, stitches will be drawn. At the same time sinkers retract and jersey stitches are drawn over knock-over bits 34 the throats of which cast off previously drawn loops. Needles 38 draw their stitches over or between the forecuts 43 of the cast off bar which also causes the previously drawn rib loops to be shed.

The fabric is taken up at the front of the machine and since string work is formed it is wound on a suitable core into a roll of convenient size.

When a desired length of cuff has been formed, changes are made to bring the intermediate needles 24 back into action and to transfer to them the last drawn loops on the rib needles. To accomplish that, FIG. 5, follower is shifted to transfer cam 84 and the needles 38 are projected into spaces between sinkers. The latter are not illustrated in FIG. 5. Loops are then distended by the clips and, of course, are aligned in open position immediately above the needles 24.

On the last course in rib work the jersey needles are held down as the rib needles move into transfer position. That involves a movement of follower 80 to its transfer cam 84 and as bar 57 is shifted, the needle bar 20 is controlled to dwell While the rib needles move to their transfer position. No yarn is fed at that cycle. The entire group of jersey needles then rises so that intermediate needles penetrate the rib loops. This is all done on one cycle and yarn is again fed to the needles and a first jersey course formed as the needles are again drawn down.

After jersey needles rise to penetrate rib loops follower 80 is then moved to an inactive position beyond the cams so that spring 86 can swing the linkage until bar 75 and its needles are withdrawn to inactive position in which arms 77 stop against a table rail 87, FIG. 3.

More or less simultaneously, the followers 100 are moved from the knitting cam 102 to the idler cams 103 so that the cast ofi bar is also withdrawn. Of course, these idler cams are virtually circular in form. The control of rib needle elevation is also altered at the same time as followers move to earns 97.

The sinkers are then projected outwardly to hold down the fabric and knitting may continue in jersey work.

This part of the article is formed to a particular shape as a rule and narrowing points are utilized in the usual way to widen the fabric first and then after knitting a parallel section, may be used to narrow at the sides and also at the V-neck. Of course, the carriers are also governed to feed yarn only to those needles which are to receive and to knit it. Since these functions are well known and form a part of other machines of this general class as heretofore used, no disclosure is necessary here.

Since, due to the fact the cam shaft is moved endwise for other purposes, the follower 80 is moved at this time and yet the position of the. rib parts is not to be disturbed, there are really two idle positions to the right, FIG. 2, of the cam 85, the one farthest removed being an idle position, the one next the cam, still having the same efiect may, however, be termed a jersey knitting, narrowing and widening position.

At the top of the blank the narrowing points are withdrawn so that the width of the work is not varied and two courses are preferably formed under those conditions.

Then a loose course is made in conventional fashion, this being for the purpose of showing a line of demarcation at which a front and back section, for example, may be sewed or otherwise joined.

At this point in the cycle, due to the fact considerable narrowing has just been done, the number of needles worked upon is considerably less than that number required to knit in the next succeeding cult. Added needles are brought into action by widening and that calls for knitting a ravel section of cheap yarn, e.g., cotton.- If the increase by way of widening must go from 244 needles to 278 needles, to take a specific example, then the carrier stroke is lengthened and the fabric widened in the usual way for about a complete revolution of the screw winder and other pants of the widening and narrowing mechanism, one revolution of which would pick up 16 needles at each side.

During the knitting to gain width, at the last 8 courses the pico-t bar is used twice to effect a lock against running. This is a known procedure and need not be described more fully here.

At the last course of this cotton or other inexpensive yarn, the picot bar is brought intoaction and its points take every other stitch (those from intermediate needles) and drop them off. That makes a loose course or one that constitutes a line of demarcation between the waste material and the start of the succeeding article.

The intermediate needles are then lowered by the appropriate means, above described, and the hard yarn or any substitute therefor is thrown into action. It is knitted for two courses on alternate jersey needles only, the second course being knitted fairly tightly although it actually constitutes a selvage course running through all loops of the next succeeding course (a rib course). The first course of this hard yarn is a draw course and, naturally, is for the purpose of separating the articles.

Rib courses to constitute another cuff or the like are then knitted. Followers 80', 90 and 10 are appropriately moved to cams 85, 96 and 102, respectively, so as to bring the rib needles into action. A rib yarn or yarns are substituted for the selvage yarn and sinkers then measure stitches about alternate needles measuring enough so that the rib as well as the jersey needles may draw appropriately sized loops. Knitting continues to the next following jersey section and the cycle is repeated.

While one embodiment of the mechanism has been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that many variations are contemplated. The single unit described may be multiplied in a longer machine so that twenty, for example, articles may be simultaneously controlled and knitted in a single machine. Of course, in such a machine many operating and control members serve for multiple units.

While a sweater blank has been used as one example 10 of fabric formed, others may be knitted and by appropriate pattern control the cycle may follow any desired sequence.

It is preferred that string work be knitted, but, of course, each article may be pressed off the needles and a new one started if desired. In that event the take-up means need accommodate only a single such article.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Needle bar means for a knitting machine of the type described which includes a main bar and an anxiliary bar, slots in said main bar for supporting in a relatively fixed position certain ones of a group. of needles and for guiding for lengthwise movement others of said needles, said auxiliary bar being movable relatively to said main bar in a direction axially of said needles and having means formed as a part thereof for supporting said other needles and by which they may be moved to and retained in a position aligned with the first mentioned needles and withdrawn from cooperation therewith.

2. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said needles which are supported by said auxiliary bar are adapted to slide freely in the slots in said main bar.

3. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said needles are of spring beard type having widened eye portions within which the needle beards enter when pressed and slots for those needles supported by said auxiliary bar are formed wide enough at at least a part of their length so that eye portions of said needles may enter the slots without interference.

4. In a straight bar type knitting machine, needle beds each of which is angularly disposed to the other, one said bed comprising a main and an auxiliary bed forming a functional part of said one bed, alternate needles fixed in the main bed and intermediate needles fixed in the auxiliary bed, means by which said auxiliary bed may be moved relatively to the main bed in :a direction axially of said needles to cause all of said needles to function en masse and to withdraw intermediate needles from action, and needles fixed in the other of said beds and substantially aligned for knitting in cooperation with said alternate needles when those intermediate needles are withdrawn from action.

5. Mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said auxiliary bed is guided within a raceway constituting a part of said main bed, stop means for limiting movement of the auxiliary bar in one direction and means for moving that bar to its extreme positions, said means further being so devised as to lock the bar in said positions.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said auxiliary bar is moved to different positions by means comprising cams and selectively positionable cam actuating means functioning at the stitch drawing movement of the main bed.

7. In a straight bar type knitting machine, needle beds each of which is angularly disposed to the other, a first one of said beds comprising a main and an auxiliary bed, alternate needles fixed in the main bed and intermediate needles fixed in the auxiliary bed, means by which said auxiliary bed may be moved relatively to the main bed to cause all of said needles to function en masse and to withdraw intermediate needles from action, and needles fixed in a second of said beds :and substantially aligned for knitting in cooperation with said alternate needles when those intermediate needles are withdrawn from action, cam operated means for actuating said second bed including cooperating sets of levers and links, one for moving the second bed and its needles substantially transversely of the first bed and its needles and the other set 1 1 for maintaining said second bed and needles at a desired elevation.

8. In a straight bar type knitting machine, needle beds each of which is angular-1y disposed to the other, one said bed comprising a main and an auxiliary bed, alternate spring beard needles fixed in the main bed and intermediate spring beard needles fixed in the auxiliary bed, means by which said auxiliary bed may be moved relatively to the main bed in a direction axially of said needles to cause all of said needles to function en masse, and to withdraw intermediate needles from action, sinkers between each said spring beard needle, knock-over bits for said needles, latch needles fixed in the other bed and aligned for knitting in cooperation with said alternate spring beard needles when those intermediate needles are withdrawn from action and a cast off plate over which said latch needles draw stitches and by which loops may be shed from said needles.

9. In a straight bar type knitting machine, needle beds each of which is angularly disposed to the other, one said bed comprising a main and an auxiliary bed, alternate needles fixed in the main bed and intermediate needles fixed in the auxiliary bed, means by which said auxiliary bed may be moved relatively to the main bed in a direction axially of said needles to cause all of said needles to function en masse and to withdraw intermediate needles from action which comprises a bar movable along the length of said needle bed, levers movable thereby and means through which movements of these levers are imparted to the auxiliary needle bed.

10. In a straight bar type knitting machine, needle beds each of which is angularly disposed to the other, needles in each bed those in one said bed being divided into groups including alternate and intermediate needles, alternate needles being relatively fixed in position in the bed, an auxiliary bed within which said intermediate needles are supported for movement to and from a position in which they align with and function to draw stitches with said alternate needles and a position in which its intermedia-te needles are depressed out of action, and stitch engaging means for removing stitches from said intermediate needles before depressing them.

11. Mechanism as defined in claim wherein said stitch removing means comprises a picot bar and points.

12. A method of discontinuing the knitting of jersey fabric on a bank of spring beard needles and continuing knitting in rib Work on some of said spring beard needles and a bank of needles disposed at an angle to the spring beard needles which includes the steps of removing intermediate stitches from said spring beard needles and depressing said needles out of action, projecting said bank of needles second mentioned toward the spaces previously occupied by said depressed needles, sinking yarn about alternate spring beard needles remaining in action in suffic-ient amount to provide stitches for both said alternate needles and other needles functioning in the spaces left by said depressed needles and taking that yarn in hooks of needles of both banks and drawing it into stitches.

13. In a straight bar type knitting machine, a first needle bed, a second needle bed angularly disposed to said first bed, needles in each bed, those in said first bed being divided into groups including alternate and intermediate needles, alternate needles being relatively fixed in position in said first bed, an auxiliary bed forming a functional part of said first bed within which said intermediate needles are supported for movement to a position in which they align with and function to draw jersey stitches with said alternate needles at which time said second bed remains inactive, said auxiliary bed being movable to Withdraw said intermediate needles to an inactive position, whereby needles in said second bed may iunction with said alternate needles in said first bed to knit rib fabric.

14. The mechanism of claim 13 which includes cam operated means for moving said auxiliary bed from one position to another.

15. The mechanism of claim 13 which includes a plurality of lever means displaceable for moving the auxiliary bed from one position to another and for selectively retaining it in either position, and a cam operated means for actuating said lever means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 774,464 Barratt et al Nov. 8, 1904 2,132,135 Taylor Oct. 4, 1938 2,326,694 Sirmay Aug. 10, 1943 2,918,810 Philip Dec. 29, 1959 3,050,967 Taylor Aug. 28, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 438,308 Germany Apr. 27, 1924 

1. NEEDLE BAR MEANS FOR A KNITTING MACHINE OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED WHICH INCLUDES A MAIN BAR AND AN AUXILIARY BAR, SLOTS IN SAID MAIN BAR FOR SUPPORTING IN A RELATIVELY FIXED POSITION CERTAIN ONES OF A GROUP OF NEEDLES AND FOR GUIDING FOR LENGTHWISE MOVEMENT OTHERS OF SAID NEEDLES, SAID AUXILIARY BAR BEING MOVABLE RELATIVELY TO SAID MAIN BAR IN A DIRECTION AXIALLY OF SAID NEEDLES AND HAVING MEANS FORMED AS A PART THEREOF FOR SUPPORTING SAID OTHER NEEDLES AND BY WHICH THEY MAY BE MOVED TO AND 